Studio couch



A. WESLEY STUDIO COUCH Nova 24, 1936.

Filed Dec. 10, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l A. WESLEY STUDIO COUCH Nov. 24,1936,

Filed Dec. 10, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 24, 1936 PAE OFFlESTUDIO COUCH of Delaware Application December 10, 1934, Serial No.756,712

10 Claims.

In building studio-couches, limitations of height restrict the lengthordepth of the upright spiralsprings in the upper couch-section as wellas circumscribe or limit the clearance between the upper and lowerrelatively-movable sections of the couch, and, accordingly, one of themain purposes of the present invention is to provide a supportingfoundation for these comparatively-shallow, erect springs of the uppersection, which will yield freely in cooperation with the springs underthe weight of a person sleeping on or occupying the upper section, aswhen the couch is opened to double or twin bed condition, whereby toprovide a maximum degree of comfort for the user.

Accordingly, my invention pertains to springcushion constructions andrelates more particularly to the means for supporting the cushionspringswhereby to give the structure an adequate and satisfactory degree ofelasticity and resiliency without danger of the cushion permanentlysagging or becoming unduly depressed.

As is indicated above, the invention, while not limited to such specialuse, is of particularly gratifying employment in studio-couches and moreespecially in connection with the springcushion of that section of thecouch which is uppermost when the two are nested, whereby, when suchcompact or telescoped couch is in use, to have the weight imposedthereon, as by one or more persons seated on the couch, supported by thetwo superposed spring-cushions, the one of the upper couch-section beingthen in part sustained by the one of the lower couch-section on which itthen bears by reason of the deflection or yielding of itsspring-supporting means.

Obviously, when such an arrangement, construction, and functioning ofall parts is employed, it is highly essential that, as soon as the loadis removed from the couch, its upper springcushion and its supportingmeans promptly and fully resume their original positions to allowsufficient and adequate space between the two cushions of the couch, sothat the two couch-sections may be slid or moved relatively to oneanother to permit ready expansion or enlargement of the couch intofull-bed size or to allow the two couch-sections to be separated fromone another to provide twin beds.

Heretofore, substantial difficulty has been experienced in a structurepossessing these desirable functional characteristics, because, when thefoundation means for carrying or supporting the upright spiral-springsof the upper or outer couch-section if permitted to have the requiredresiliency to be comfortable when open and to allow the twospring-cushions to contact and act cumulatively or conjointly when thecouch is in telescoped condition, was subjected to a substan 'tial load,it would assume a permanent set or sag which interfered with or actuallyprevented the relative sliding movements of the couch units.

An aim of this invention is, therefore, to overcome this difficulty, anda further purpose thereof is to provide novel and improved means forsecuring the supporting means for the erect spiral-springs to thecouch-frame.

To enable those skilled in this art to understand the invention, apreferred embodiment of the same is presented in the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification, and, for the sake ofsimplicity, like reference numerals have been employed to designate thesame parts throughout the several views.

In these drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of the upper couch-section with its uprightspiral-springs broken away and with the usual mattress or cushionomitted;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail section of the means for anchoring thelower ends of the spiral-springs in place; 25

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the structure presented in Figure 2but showing a greater portion of the spring;

Figure 4 illustrates in section the novel means for attaching the endsof the spring cross wires to the couch-frame;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal, vertical section through the studio-couch inits compact condition; and

Figure 6 is a vertical cross-section through the U studio-couch on alarger scale.

By reference to the several views of these drawings, it will be observedthat the lower, inner or smaller couch-section has the usualbent-anglebar end-frames H, H affording the customary supporting legs12, I2, such end-frames being connected together in the usual manner bythe longitudinal bars Ill, II], the frame thus formed carrying awire-link or other suitable fabric it conveniently yieldingly connectedto the inward- 4 ly-directed flanges of the angle-bars by helicalsprings l4, Hi, there being nothing novelin this portion of theconstruction.

The upper, outer, larger couch-section has the usual bent-angle-barend-frames I1, I l, the a corner legs of which are equipped withcasterwheels l8, M3 to facilitate the inward andoutward slidingmovements of such member of the couch, these end-frames being unitedtogether by the longitudinal angle-bars l6 and 31, the former having oneof its flanges extended downwardly, the latter having its correspondingflange projecting upwardly for a purpose hereinafter indi cated.

As is clearly presented, the horizontal inwardlyextended flanges of bothof such angle-bars l6 and 3E and of the two end-frames ll have spacedholes 23, 23 through them to receive the bent ends of longitudinal andcross, high-carbon, tempered spring-wires l9 and 2!, respectively, ofany suitable shape in cross section, on which rows of uprightspiral-springs 22 are mounted at their points of crossing.

Heretofore, it has been a matter of substantial difficulty to fasten orsecure the ends of such wires to such a frame, due to the fact thatwires of the stated spring high-carbon type are difiicult to bend,especially with hand-operated tools.

In the present instance, in accordance with the improved principles ofthis invention, before the cross-wires H are mounted on the frame eachend of each such lateral wire is offset downwardly as presented indetail in Figure 4 an amount corresponding approximately to thethickness or depth of the wire plus the thickness of the anglebarflange, then these deformed or depressed ends 24 are inserted throughthe apertures 23 of one longitudinal frame-bar so that the main body ofthe wires may rest on, or be close to, the top surface of the flangewith the offset ends bearing against the underside of the flangeoutwardly beyond the holes.

Thereupon, all of the offset ends of such cross wires are in similar orlike manner inserted through the complementary or companion holes of theopposite frame-bar before it is fastened in place as a part of theframe, thus allowing such bar to be properly manipulated or moved toeffect such introduction of the wire ends in their apertures, whereuponthe bar is riveted or otherwise fastened in position to comprise itsportion of the frame.

In practising this procedure, the indicated bends in the wires may beconveniently and relatively easily and economically produced by machineand not by hand, and no further shaping of the wires is required.

The insertion of these deformed or bent ends through their respectiveflange holes may be quickly accomplished at comparatively low cost, andthe wires, when in place, are firmly and securely held or anchored inposition without pos sibility of dislodgment.

Such transverse wires 2i are of such length that, when they are thusmounted in the frame with their bent or shaped ends bearing against theouter walls of their apertures 23, they arch or how upwardly somewhatthroughout their length crosswise the structure, as shown mostly clearlyin Figure 6, for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

One end of each of the longitudinal wires I9 is mounted on or attachedto one of the end-frames in the same manner (Fig. 5), but its other endis merely hooked into the corresponding hole in the flange of theopposite end-frame.

These lengthwise wires also arch or bow upwardly and their bent ends maybear against the outer walls of the apertures which they occupy, butsuch upward curvature, because of the greater length of the wires, doesnot perform the same function, or at least not in the same degree, asdoes the bowing or arching of the cross wires, as will be seen from Whatfollows.

The spring-cushion for this larger, higher couch-section is comprised inpart by rows of the erect spiral-springs 22, 22, one at eachintersection of the spring-wires i9 and 2|, and at such crossing pointsthese wires are bent in suitable manner to escape one another, asdepicted in Figures 2 and 3.

In order to anchor the lower end of each such upright spring 22adequately and securely to the crossed supporting wires l9, 2|, thelowermost coil or convolution of the spring lies beneath the cross-wireat two points and above the companion longitudinal wire at two points,thus properly securing the spring in place, the upper ends or terminalrings of such springs being united or tied together in any approvedfashion, all of which is well understood in the art and therefore notillustrated.

So far as now described, except for the shape and arching of the wiresand the attachment of their ends to the frame, there is nothing novel inthe structure.

The objection to the usual, old construction with unarched supportingwires is that, whereas the wires possess sufiicient resiliency andelasticity to afford comfort when the structure is used as a bed and tosag enough when the telescoped couch is occupied to permit them to bearon, and to be in a measure supported by, the low er cushion-structure ofthe other underlying couch-section, thus securing the conjoint plianteffect of both cushions, the wires do not of themselves have sufficientreacting or recovering capacity to assure their complete rise orautomatic restoration to their original positions when their load isremoved, with the result that, in time,

they take a permanent sag or set which either hinders or completelyprevents the sliding movement of the couch-sections relatively to oneanother and which capacity for unhindered movement obviously isessential for the proper working of the construction.

To assist in comfortably supporting the occupant when the uppercouch-section is used by itself as a bed, and to assist in avoiding theoccurrence of the indicated objectionable tendency, the presentinvention contemplates in addition the provision of supplemental meansto aid in the return of such supporting spring-wires, when the load isterminated, to their original positions and all of this without materialmodification or reduction of the elastic or cushioning properties of thestructure.

To this end, one or a number of yieldinglysupported, transverse, bentwires unitedly or conjointly forming stirrups, hammocks, or frames arelocated directly beneath the longitudinal spring-wires l9 referred toand are supported from the couch-section frame by coiled springs.

In the present instance, each such supplemental support or saddlecomprises a pair of bent wires 25 reversely arranged and each shaped toform a middle, substantially-straight section 26, terminating in obliquesections 2?, 21, each of which ends in a hook or attachment loop As isfully presented in Figure 1, ordinarily six such individual bent wiresare employed, forming three units, but, of course, a lesser or greaternumber may be used, if desired.

At one side of the construction, each pair of such. hooks 28 isconnected to a coiled spring 29, whose outer end is hooked in thecorresponding one of a series of holes in the upstanding flange of theframe angle-bar 3!, and, at the opposite side of the structure, thecompanion or complementary like springs 32, 32 connect the adjacenthooks of the wires to holes in separate brackets 33, 33 riveted orotherwise fastened to the corresponding angle-bar [6 of the frame, thevertical flange of which, in this instance, extends downwardly insteadof upwardly as indicated in Figure 6.

As is also clearly portrayed in such figure of the drawings, the pointsof attachment of the outer ends of all of these several springs 29 and32 are such that the springs exert their pulls or strains upwardly andoutwardly to afford an adequate lifting or sustaining action on thespring-wires l9 and 2i and on the upright spiralsprings associatedtherewith.

These supplemental wires 25, as is shown in Figure 1, extend along thesides of some of the cross-wires 2i and they are crimped or bent inconformity therewith, the lowermost convolutions of the spiral-springsengaging and cooperating with these auxiliary or accessorysupportingwires in the same way that they do with the cross-wires 2!, aspresented in Figure 3.

The construction is such that the principal wires l9 and 2! yieldsufliciently, when the upper couch-section is used as a part of a doublebed or as one of two twin-beds, to afford a maximum degree of ease tothe occupant, and they also yield adequately when the couch is incompact condition and the load is applied to the spiral-springs topermit the underlying springstructure it, i l by engagement therewith toassist in carrying the weight of the load so that the occupant oroccupants of the couch in its telescoped condition have the advantage ofthe elasticity of both cooperating cushion-structures, and, by reason ofthe additional lifting effort exerted by the supplemental meansillustrated and described, all parts of the upper cushion readily assumetheir original positions as soon as they are relieved of the imposedload or weight.

The stated supporting and elevating or raising action of the auxiliaryspring-controlled saddies or hammocks is facilitated and assisted by thenormal crowned or arched characteristic of the supporting cross-wires,because, when these shorter spring-wires are depressed by the load towhich the upright spiral-springs are subjected, they snap down pastdead-center, their ends being anchored against further separation fromone another, and when the load is taken off they spring up pastdead-center to their original po-- sitions.

In some cases, a somewhat comparable effect may be secured withouthaving the wires actually pass the dead-center as stated.

In some instances, it is feasible to omit the saddles or hammocks and todepend entirely upon this springing by or toward and from dead-center ofthe supporting cross-wires themselves, and in other cases, it is well todepend solely upon the employment of the hammocks or saddles and towaive the arching of the spring-wires.

Thus the couch-sections are so constructed that they may be used asbed-sections with entire satisfaction and the nested couch-sections maybe readily separated without danger of any of the parts conflicting withone another and hindering or preventing this separation.

The invention, as specified in the following claims, is not restrictedto the precise details of procedure, structure and function hereinaboveset forth, and those skilled in this art will readily appreciate thatmore or less major or minor modifications may be resorted to withoutdeparture from the essence and principles of the invention.

I claim: 1. In a spring-cushion structure, the combination of a frame,yieldable spring-supporting members disposed lengthwise and crosswiseof, and attached at their ends to, said frame, upright spiral-springsanchored at their lower ends tosaid members at substantially theircrossing points, supplemental means disposed crosswise of same frame andhaving their central portions in substantially the plane of, and adaptedto assist in supporting, said members, and upwardly outwardly inclinedcoiled springs supporting said supplemental means on said frame byconnecting the ends thereof to the frame at points above said members.

2. In a spring-cushion structure, the combination of a frame,spring-wires disposed crosswise of said frame and secured to said frameat their opposite ends by downwardly offset end sections extendedthrough holes in the frame and located beneath the frame membersoutwardly beyond said holes, longitudinal spring-wires mounted on saidframe, upright spiral-springs anchored at their lower ends to saidspring-wires at substantially their crossing points, supplemental meansdisposed crosswise said frame and arranged to assist in supporting saidWires, and upwardly outwardly inclined coiled springs supporting saidsupplemental means on said frame by connecting the ends thereof to saidframe at points above said springrwires.

3. The structure presented in claim 1 in which said spiral-springs areanchored at their lower ends not only to said members but also to saidsupplemental means.

4. The structure presented in claim 1 in which said supplemental meansare bent wires arranged in pairs and in which each inclined springconnects the ends of two of such wires to the frame.

5. The structure presented in claim 2 in which said supplemental meansare bent wires arranged in pairs and in which each inclined springconnects the ends of a plurality of such wires to the frame.

6. The structure presented in claim 1 in which said crossspring-supporting members normally arch upwardly and have their endsanchored to the fr-ameagainst further separation.

7. In a studio-couch, "a lower inner couchsection having a resilienttop, an upper outer couch-section having in combination, a frame,yieldable spring-supporting members disposed lengthwise and crosswiseof, and attached at their ends to, said frame, upright spiral-springsanchored at their lower ends to said members at substantially theircrossing points, supplemental means disposed crosswise said frame andhaving their central portions in substantially the plane of, andarranged to assist in supporting, said members, and upwardly outwardlyinclined coiled springs supporting said supplemental means on said frameby connecting the ends thereof to said frame at points above saidmembers, said members and supplemental means in the nested condition ofsaid couch-section and under normal load imposed on said spiral-springsdeflecting sufficiently to permit said resilient top to assist insupporting said spiral-springs and their load, said supplemental meansassisting in restoring said supporting members and spiral-springs totheir original positions when the load is removed from saidspiral-springs.

8. In a studio-couch, a lower inner couchsection having a resilient top,an upper outer couch-section having in combination a frame, upwardlybowed spring-wires disposed crosswise of said frame and secured at theiropposite ends to said frame to prevent further separation of said ends,longitudinal spring-wires mounted on said frame, and uprightspiral-springs supported by and having their lower convolutionsinterlocked with said cross and longitudinal wires at substantiallytheir points of crossing, said springwires in the nested condition ofsaid couch-section and under normal load imposed on said spiralspringsdeflecting sufiiciently to permit said resilient top to assist insupporting said spiralsprings and their load, said cross spring-wires byreason of their bowed characteristic resuming their original elevatedposition when the load is removed from said spiral-springs.

9. The structure presented in claim 8 in which each end of each of saidcross spring-wires has a downwardly ofiset section extended through ahole in the frame and located outwardly beyond the hole in the framemember to which it is attached.

10. In a spring-cushion structure, the combination of a frame, normallyupwardly arched spring-wires disposed lengthwise of said frame andhaving their ends anchored to said frame, normally upwardly archedspring-wires disposed crosswise of said frame and secured to said frameat their opposite ends by downwardly offset end sections extendedthrough holes in the frame and located beneath and bearing against theundersides of the frame members outwardly beyond said holes, said offsetends having such angular relation to the main bodies of the crosswiresas to produce said upward arching thereof When the ends bear against theundersides of their frame members, said lengthwise and crosswise wiresexcept for said arching and their attachments to said frame beingsubstantially straight, and upright spiral-springs supported by saidWires and anchored at their lower ends to said wires at substantiallytheir crossing points, whereby said cross-wires when released from theirload resume their ordinary arch shape due to their own resiliency, suchaction of said crosswires assisting in effecting a corresponding actionof said lengthwise wires.

ARTHUR WESLEY.

